Bushman's Typhoon Blog: TS KAI-TAK [HELEN]

for Wednesday, 15 August 2012 [7:13 AM PhT]

Typhoon2000 (T2K) NEWS (Monday August 13, 2012):

Currently issuing 6-hrly web, SMS, email, & iTyphoon app updates (except 12 Midnight) on KAI-TAK (HELEN).

KAI-TAK MAX WIND SPEED PER AGENCY:

+ USA (JTWC/1-min avg): 100 km/hr
+ Japan (JMA/10-min avg): 75 km/hr
+ Philippines (PAGASA/10-min avg): 85 km/hr
+ Beijing (NMC/2-min avg): 95 km/hr
+ Taiwan (CWB/10-min avg): 75 km/hr
+ Korea (KMA/10-min avg): 80 km/hr
+ Hong Kong (HKO/10-min avg): 85 km/hr
:: Click here to see Multi-Agency Forecast Tracks

TYPHOON2000 (T2K) TROPICAL CYCLONE UPDATES
TROPICAL STORM KAI-TAK (HELEN) UPDATE NUMBER 008
6:00 AM PhT (22:00 GMT) Wed 15 August 2012
Sources: T2K Analysis/Dynamic Models/SatFixes
View: T2K TC Update Archives (2004-2012)

Tropical Storm KAI-TAK (HELEN) has made landfall over Palanan, Isabela and is now starting to traverse Northern Luzon...expected to pass very close to the cities of Ilagan and Tuguegarao this morning. Stormy weather prevailing across Northern Luzon.

Meanwhile, KAI-TAK will continue to enhance the Southwest Monsoon (aka. Habagat) across the Western Sections of Luzon & Visayas incl. Metro Manila, Northern Palawan, Mindoro, Southern Tagalog Provinces and Bicol Region today until Thursday. Cloudy and windy conditions w/ scattered to passing occasional showers, rains, squalls & thunderstorms will be expected along the abovementioned areas. The seas along the coastal areas facing the West, East and North Philippine Seas will be rough and dangerous.

Residents and visitors along Northern and Central Luzon, Southern China and Taiwan should closely monitor the progress of KAI-TAK (HELEN).

Do not use this for life or death decision. This advisory is intended for additional information purposes only. Kindly refer to your country's official weather agency for local warnings, advisories & bulletins.

CURRENT STORM INFORMATION

Time/Date: 6:00 AM PhT Wed August 15, 2012
Location of Center: 17.2º N Lat 122.3º E Lon
Distance 1: 25 km (NNW) away from Palanan Bay, Isabela
Distance 2: 53 km (E) closer to Ilagan City
Distance 3: 72 km (ENE) closer to Cauayan City
Distance 4: 113 km (NNE) away from Casiguran, Aurora
Distance 5: 78 km (SE) closer to Tuguegarao City
Distance 6: 146 km (S) closer to Santa Ana, Cagayan
Distance 7: 153 km (SSE) closer to Aparri, Cagayan
Distance 8: 202 km (ENE) closer to Baguio City
Distance 9: 206 km (ESE) closer to Vigan City
Distance 10: 212 km (SE) closer to Laoag City
Distance 11: 223 km (ENE) closer to San Fernando City
Distance 12: 316 km (NNE) away from Metro Manila
MaxWinds (1-min avg): 100 kph (55 kts) near the center
Peak Wind Gusts: 130 kph (70 kts)
Present Movement: West @ 13 kph (07 kts)
Towards: Isabela-Cagayan Area
CPA [ETA] to Isabela-Cagayan: Wednesday [Now til 2PM PHT]
NOAA 24hr Rainfall Accum (near center): 500 mm (VHigh)
Minimum Central Pressure: 982 millibars (hPa)
Saffir-Simpson Typhoon Scale: TS
Size (in Diameter): 555 km (300 nm) [Average]
Wind Area Distribution (in Knots): Current Wind Profile
Max Sea Wave Height (near center): 18 ft
Possible Storm Surge Height: 1-3 ft [0.3-0.9 m]
T2K StormTracks (for Public): Google Map (Flash) | GIF

3-DAY FORECAST OUTLOOK & ANALYSIS*

KAI-TAK (HELEN) is expected to move WNW to NW-ward throughout the forecast period, with some fluctuations in its forward speed. On the forecast track, the core of KAI-TAK will continue to traverse Northern Luzon today...passing across the provinces of Isabela and Cagayan (very near or over Tuguegarao and Ilagan Cities) this morning...Kalinga and Apayao around noontime...Abra & Ilocos Norte by late afternoon. KAI-TAK will then emerge over the West Philippine Sea later tonight, after passing over or very close to Laoag City at around sunset...and then will move out of the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) by Thursday noon. By Friday morning, KAI-TAK is forecast to make landfall over Southern China very near Hong Kong, and will move inland across Guangdong Province on Saturday.

Maximum Sustained Winds (1-min. avg) have increased to near 100 km/hr (55 knots) with higher gusts. Some disruption on its strength is expected as the storm traverses Northern Luzon today...and is likely to re-strengthen after 24 hours once it emerges into the West Philippine Sea/South China Sea. KAI-TAK is forecast to become a Typhoon on Thursday.

Tropical Storm Force Winds (62-100 km/hr) extend outward up to 130 kilometers (70 nautical miles) from the center. KAI-TAK is a average-sized tropical cyclone with a diameter of 555 kilometers (300 nautical miles) across.

The following is the summary of the 3-day forecast outlook on this system:

THURSDAY MORNING: Near Typhoon strength as it starts to move away from Northern Luzon across the West Philippine Sea...about 217 km NW of Laoag City [6AM AUG 16: 19.3N 118.9E @ 110kph].
FRIDAY MORNING: Becomes a Typhoon as it approaches Hong Kong Harbour...about 100 km ESE of Hong Kong, China [6AM AUG 17: 21.9N 115.1E @ 130kph].
SATURDAY MORNING: Weakens into a Tropical Storm (TS) after making landfall near Hong Kong...moving inland across Western Guangdong in Southern China...about 280 km NW of Macau [6AM AUG 18: 24.1N 111.8E @ 75kph].

*Please be reminded that the Forecast Outlook changes every 6 hours, and the Day 3 Forecast Track have an average error of 250 km...while the wind speed forecast error, averages 35 kph per day. Therefore, a turn to the left or right of its future track and changes in its wind speed must be anticipated from time to time.

EFFECTS & HAZARDS SUMMARY

Below is the summary of the storm's parts and its hazards affecting specific areas:

CENTRAL DENSE OVERCAST (CDO) - over Isabela. Near-Typhoon Conditions w/ Near-Typhoon Force Winds (100-130 kph) will be expected along the CDO. (click here to know more about CDO).
INNER RAINBANDS - affecting and spreading across Cagayan, Aurora, Kalinga, and Apayao. Tropical Storm Conditions with Tropical Storm Force Winds (62-100 kph) will be expected along these bands.
OUTER RAINBANDS - affecting & spreading across the rest of Central & Northern Luzon. Cloudy/Rainy Conditions with moderate to strong winds (<62 kph) will be expected along these bands (click here to know more about Rainbands).
24HR TOTAL RAINFALL ACCUMULATION - from 5 up to 200 mm (low to high rainfall) can be expected along areas affected by the outer & inner rainbands (see above)...with isolated amounts of 201 to 500 mm (high to very high) along areas near the center of Kai-tak (Helen) (click to open NOAA's eTRaP graphic).
COASTAL STORM SURGE FLOODING - possible 1-3 ft (0.3-0.9 m) above normal tide levels...accompanied by large and dangerous battering waves can be expected along the coastal, inland lakes and beach front areas of Northern Luzon. Very minimal damage is likely on this type of storm surge. Danger from Rip Currents or Rip Tides can be expected along the rest of the beach-front areas of Luzon. (click here to know more about Storm Surge).

CURRENT SW MONSOON INTENSITY: MODERATE >> Mostly cloudy skies with some scattered to occasional showers, rains or thunderstorms will be expected along the following affected areas: WESTERN VISAYAS, WESTERN LUZON & MINDORO incl. CALAMIAN GROUP OF ISLANDS, NORTHERN PALAWAN, BICOL REGION, SOUTHERN TAGALOG PROVINCES & METRO MANILA. Light to moderate SW'ly winds (not in excess of 50 kph) will blow across the abovementioned areas.

Important Note: Please keep in mind that the above forecast outlook, effects-hazards, current monsoon intensity, & tropical cyclone watch changes every 6 to 12 hrs!

PAGASA Philippine Storm Warnings Signals

Kindly visit: The official PAGASA Website to view the Signals hoisted

External Links for TS KAI-TAK (HELEN)

PAGASA: Hourly Updates
View NOAA-CIRA's: Latest Full Wind Analysis
JTWC Latest Tracking Chart: wp1412.gif
Multi-Agency Forecast TrackMap: Near Real-Time
TSR Wind Probabilities: Current to 4 Days Ahead
JAXA TRMM Page: Latest Rainrate (in mm/hr)
NASA TRMM Page: Kai-tak's Rainrate Archives (in mm/hr)
Zoomed Satellite Pic: NOAA's Near Real-Time
Wunderground Animation: 6-12 hr. GIF Loop

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CURRENT NOAA/MTSAT-2 SATELLITE IMAGE:

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CURRENT TYPHOON2000.COM TRACKING MAP:

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NOTE:

>> To know the meteorological terminologies and acronyms used on this update visit the ff:

    http://typhoon2000.ph/tcterm.htm
    http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/aboutgloss.shtml
    http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/acronyms.shtml
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For the complete details on TS KAI-TAK (HELEN)...go visit our website @:

> http://www.typhoon2000.com
> http://www.maybagyo.com

> http://www.typhoon2000.ph

:: Kindly view our site's disclaimer at:
http://www.typhoon2000.ph/disclaimer.htm

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